A victim of crime can get compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). WAR has won many cases over the years and campaigned for change.
Over the last few years, we have developed a network of survivors who are fighting for their compensation and want to campaign together.
Our campaign for fairer compensation spells out the main ways the CICA discriminates against victims of sexual violence. Some of our demands have been won, such as ending the ‘Same Roof Rule‘ (which had denied an award to victims abused by someone who lived under the Same Roof as their attacker before 1979). People who applied before or were put off applying had until 13 June 2021 to reapply.
And there have been some improvements made to prevent the CICA ruling that underage victims had consented to sex when it was rape. But our fight goes on...
We demand an end to discriminatory obstacles and rules:
- Stop refusing compensation to victims who have criminal convictions. In the five years to 2020 criminal convictions deprived 895 sexual assault victims of any award. Fill in this MOJ consultation about denying victims compensation if they have an unspent conviction before 5 August 2022. SIGN THE PETITION, and circulate it widely. Let’s press the government to change the compensation policy on criminal convictions so victims get our rights.
- Victims not co-operating with a prosecution must not be penalised. Victims are often persecuted by police and this causes them to withdraw after reporting. They must not be penalised, as it is often due to trauma, intimidation or hostility by their attacker or by police . . . It must be investigated so that women are not discouraged from applying, as is their right.
- Police testimony is often valued over the victim’s, despite their well-documented prejudices like sexism, racism . . .
- The amounts granted for rape and sexual abuse must be raised, we demand a higher value on sex crimes (eg the rape award is just £11,000, but this crime can injure your whole life).
- Victims must not be re-traumatised in the application process. Decisions must be sped up. Hostile intimidating questions should not be asked at appeal hearings, often using outdated rape myths that blame victims for rape. It is outrageous that even those whose attacker was convicted can be invasively questioned by the CICA. Compensation is every victim’s right.
- Make legal aid and other help available so victims can get help. It’s unfair that at appeal hearings we are unrepresented against a CICA lawyer, or if we get a lawyer they take up to 25% of our award.
- The time limit to apply for compensation must be extended to five years (currently two years). Victims who delay reporting crimes to police late must not be penalised.
What you can do . . .
- Fill in this MOJ consultation about denying victims compensation if they have an unspent conviction before 5 August. This is our chance to Stop them refusing compensation to victims who have criminal convictions. In the five years to 2020 criminal convictions deprived 895 sexual assault victims of any award.
- SIGN THE PETITION, and circulate it widely. Let’s press the government to change the compensation policy on criminal convictions.
- Share our campaign materials above.
- Write to the media to expose the injustices against victims of sexual violence in the Compensation Scheme.
- Contact us to get involved in the campaign and sign up for our mailing list.
Campaign victories, media, & what we’re fighting for:
- Fill in this MOJ consultation about denying victims compensation if they have an unspent conviction, before 5 August (more info from us here). This is our chance to Stop them refusing compensation to victims who have criminal convictions.
- Sex abuse victim denied compo after bringing Rottweiler to collect overdue pay cheque, Mirror interviews with Kim, 28 May 2022
- Woman pimped out in her teens denied compensation for seven-year ordeal, METRO 26 December 2021
- Call to stop denying compensation to rape victims with criminal convictions, Hampstead and Highgate Express 20 December 2021
- Video: Press launch of our petition "Stop denying compensation to victims of sexual assault", 15 December 2021
- Rape victims with minor criminal convictions blocked from financial compensation, The Independent 13 December 2021
- Sex attack victims denied compensation ‘because of unpaid TV licences’
30 June 2021 - Hundreds of rape victims still being denied compensation over past offences, METRO 1 April 2021
- Consult on damages for crime victims with convictions, court tells government
- Evidence to Ministry of Justice Review of Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, October 2020
- Government announces Same Roof victims can re-apply for compensation,
13 June 2019 - Our comment on Government's planned review of CICA rules, 10 September 2018
- Independent article on the struggle of Kim Mitchell to get the compensation she is entitled to. She was refused because she had a minor conviction. This article also quotes us, and is a key demand we have put to the government, demanding they change this among other discrimination in the CICA rules, 30 July 2018
- Press Release: Criminal injuries compensation awards – rules designed to exclude rape victims, 6 June 2018
- Open Letter for compensation to Secretary of Justice - endorsed by dozens of organisations & experts, 15 March 2018
- Campaign update – survivor Alissa Moore in Parliament, 30 November 2017
- Christina McHugh, 27, raped when she was just 11, was denied compensation because of a conviction - Scottish Herald, 4 November 2017
- Hundreds of sex assault victims refused compensation due to criminal convictions, The Independent, 28 October 2017
- Guardian: High court rules in favour of victim who retracted under duress, by Helen Pidd, describing how a woman who reported her husband for rape was prosecuted for retracting and then was denied compensation, which we helped overturn. 1 August 2016
Read more on Compensation
Survivors of childhood abuse campaign for compensation NADJA, by Leila Hawkins 15/07/2022 Read on NADJA site here People who have experienced childhood abuse in the UK are being denied compensation by a punitive law. Survivors are now campaigning to change this. When *Lucy was 11 years old her grandfather began sexually abusing her. For the …
Open Letter for compensation to Secretary of Justice
Open Letter for compensation to Secretary of Justice Rt Hon. David Gauke Secretary of State for Justice 6 June 2018 Dear David Gauke We collectively represent the experience and demands of thousands of survivors of rape, domestic violence and sex crimes suffered as children or adults. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is discriminating against victims …
Model letter to MPs re compensation – please use
Please adjust accordingly and send this letter to your local MP (find your MP’s name and contact details here) [your address or email] Dear [insert full name of MP] As your constituent I urge you to take action to update the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme for victims of crime, in particular for victims of rape …
Asylum from Rape Bulletin Winter 2010
Landmark compensation for torture victim and her family. A mother and her five children have won a precedent-setting, six figure compensation award from the Home Office for abuse and injuries sustained during deportation to Uganda in 2006. Ms A was supported throughout by WAR who found legal representation through Leigh Day & Co. solicitors. During …
Ms L wins £11,000 at Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority appeal A rape survivor who was unable to give a full statement to the police applied for compensation three years later, fought an initial refusal – and won! Facts Ms L was attacked in May 2001, by a stranger. She has no memory from the middle …